1997–98 S.L. Benfica season

Season summary

After a season that broke negative records, Benfica started the new one hoping to improve its previous year's performance. Manuel José continued as manager, with the opportunity to rebuild the squad in his preference. Despite many misses, new signings Nuno Gomes, Gamarra and Scott Minto jumped immediately to the starting eleven.

The season opened with a convincing home against S.C. Campomaiorense, but this impact was immediately cut short. In the first game as visitor, Benfica conceded the first loss; in the next matchday, the club had to fight not to lose at home against Académica. In the first European game, a second loss, against Bastia, which had qualified using the Intertoto Cup. A second league loss in four games led to the immediate dismissal of José, as disciplinary problems also emerged, mainly the incident involving João Pinto and a fireman after the game in Vila do Conde.

Benfica resorted to Mário Wilson for a third time in two years, until a permanent substitute was found. The experienced manager was unable to revert the one-nill deficit brought from first leg of the UEFA Cup, ending European football in September for the first time since 1990–91. The situation did not improve in the league, with a five-game win less spree, seeing the club drop to eleventh. Wilson's influence only made effect on late October, with three straight wins, one counting for the Portuguese Cup.

After a presidential change, Benfica hired Graeme Souness on 1 November. The Scottish manager had spells at Rangers, Liverpool, and had worked abroad, in Turkey and Italy, but was mostly unheard of in Portuguese football. In his first month, the helped the team climb from sixth to fourth, only three points from second place. Despite this, Benfica was still losing much needed points, entering the Clássico against Porto with an eleven-point difference. After a losing in Estádio das Antas, and with two more points lost at home, the winter signings, Poborský, Brian Deane and Luís Carlos began to impact the team performance, helping the club start a winning run, that saw them climb to second place, and beat Sporting C.P. by four-one in Alvalade in February. The only downside was the semi-final exit in the Portuguese cup, at the hands of S.C. Braga; the fourth time in history that Braga had eliminated Benfica (1966, 1979, and 1982).

In March, even though the team lost five points, the reappearance of João Pinto after an injury suffered in the Clássico gave Souness one more option to partner with Nuno Gomes. Isolated in second and with Porto clinching the title in late April, the team faced them only fighting for their honour. With a three-nil victory, the team exacted revenge from the defeat in January. The season ended with a seven-one victory over Leça; the biggest home win in the league, as Souness was certain to remain in charge.

Competitions

Overall record

Primeira Divisão

Main article: 1997–98 Primeira Divisão

League table

Results by round

Matches

Paulo Nunes
João Pinto Nenad
Marcos Tahar Nuno Gomes
Panduru Panduru Cao Paulinho Santos Paulo Ferreira Kandaurov Poborský Brian Deane Nuno Gomes
José Soares Sérgio China
Marcos
Sousa
Brian Deane
João Pinto Tahar
Brian Deane Nuno Gomes Roberto Matute Jorge Couto Brian Deane Ricardo Emídio Ramalho Silva
Tahar Poborský
Tahar Chaínho Nuno Gomes
Brian Deane Vladan Stojkovic

Taça de Portugal

Main article: 1997–98 Taça de Portugal

João Pinto Nuno Gomes Camilo Panduru
Martin Pringle

UEFA Cup

Main article: 1997–98 UEFA Cup

First round

Friendlies

Geovanni
Fábio Júnior Iranildo
Lúcio
Rodrigo Mendes
Fábio Baiano Paulo Nunes

Player statistics

The squad for the season consisted of the players listed in the tables below, as well as staff member Manuel José (manager), Mário Wilson (manager) and Graeme Souness (manager).

Note 1: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Note 2: Players with squad numbers marked ‡ joined the club during the 1997-98 season via transfer, with more details in the following section.

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Transfers

In

Out

Out by loan

References

Bibliography

References

1. (March 1997). "Perigo: 50 maneiras do Brasil perder a Copa". Placar.
2. (11 October 1999). "João Pinto assume-se como "capitão da nau"". Record.
3. (3 April 2014). "Às Terras Baixas das Papoilas...Regressam as "Papoilas Saltitantes"".
4. Vitor Serpa. "Queridos Presidentes". A Bola.
5. (6 August 1999). "Copa Centenário de Belo Horizonte 1997".
6. (14 August 1997). "Mancini, parole di uno che ci crede". Gazzeta Dello Sport.
7. "Sport Lisboa e Benfica Squad 1997-98". Thefinalball.com.
8. "Transfers".
9. (8 July 1997). "Paulo Nunes vai para o Benfica por US$ 10 milhões". Folha Online.
10. (28 December 1998). "Football: Benfica and Souness snap up Poborsky". The Independent.